The Pacific Nations Cup 2024 will be played across five weekends from 23 August to 21 September 2024. It features six teams, initially playing across two pools and then in knock-out rounds to produce an overall champion.
The 2024 Pacific Nations Cup competition kicks off in Suva on Friday, when the hosts Fiji will clash with neighbours Samoa for the 56 time.
Everything you need to know about the Pacific Nations Cup
As the rebranded cross-regional competition prepares to kick-off on 23 August, we take a look at a tournament with a rich history and an even brighter future.
But for the island rugby unions in the six -team event, they will have more than just the PNC title to chase - they will also mark 100 years of rugby union.
Fiji, Samoa and Tonga played first Test rugby games against each other in 1924.
Although rugby was first played in Fiji in 1884, internationals between the three countries did not start until 1924.
Run by World Rugby in partnership with the participating unions, the rebranded tournament is designed to drive competitiveness on the road to the expanded Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia.
Along the way, it is hoped this new era for the Pacific Nations Cup can help create an annual competition that contains rivalries like those seen in the Men’s Six Nations and Rugby Championship.
Embedded in the southern hemisphere international window, the tournament will combine with the two-division global calendar competitions launching in 2026 to provide unprecedented certainty of fixtures and opportunity for players and fans in Canada, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and USA.
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PACIFIC FIJI22 Aug 2024
Pacific Nations Cup clash to kick off 100 years of rugby between Fiji, Samoa and Tonga
The Flying Fijians putting in some defense work against Manu Samoa at Apia Park on Saturday. 29 July 2023 Photo: Piui Simi/Samoa ObserverThe Flying Fijians putting in some defense work against Manu Samoa at Apia Park on Saturday. 29 July 2023. Photo: Piui Simi / Samoa Observer
The 2024 Pacific Nations Cup competition kicks off in Suva on Friday, when the hosts Fiji will clash with neighbours Samoa for the 56 time.
But for the island rugby unions in the six -team event, they will have more than just the PNC title to chase - they will also mark 100 years of rugby union.
Fiji, Samoa and Tonga played first Test rugby games against each other in 1924.
Although rugby was first played in Fiji in 1884, internationals between the three countries did not start until 1924.
The expanded Pacific Nations Cup series will get underway this weekend duration3′ :16″ from Pacific Waves Add to playlist Download
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The expanded Pacific Nations Cup series will get underway this weekend
Fiji played against Samoa in two Test matches in Apia, winning the first, before the locals avenged that with a good win against the visitors in the second match.
The Fijians then sailed across to Tonga and returned with a successful nine-match tour of the Kingdom, winning seven games, with a draw and a loss to their name.
Now, a century later, the game of rugby has developed, most laws have changed, and players are now either semi-professionals or professionals, with big money involved.
Both the Samoa and Tonga Rugby Unions will be celebrating the centennials.
Lakapi Samoa have a week-long celebration planned for Apia from 25 August, culminating on the 30th, when Manu Samoa hosts the 'Ikale Tahi at Apia Park.
Records show the two teams have played 69 Test matches against each other.
Lakapi Samoa chief executive Faleomavaega Vincent Fepuleai told the Samoa Observer plans are already confirmed.
"We will be having our celebration on Sunday the 25th. We were hoping to have it at the Mulivai Cathedral, but it's closed because there's work being done on it in preparation for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting," he was quoted by the newspaper.
"We wanted to have it at the EFKS Hall because it was the only big place. However, we have moved it to St Theresa Catholic Church, Lepea.
"It's almost the same as the Marist's celebration but the Manu Samoa and Tonga game is within this week's celebration."
They will have a march on 27 August, where all the former rugby players will be participating.
Fepuleai said about 600 players will be in this celebration.
On 28 August, the union will host a Capping Awards night at Friendship Park.
"We're capping everybody that has played for Manu Samoa," Fepuleai added.
Manu Samoa team training in Apia for the Pacific Nations Cup. Photos: Manu SamoaManu Samoa team training in Apia for the Pacific Nations Cup. Photo: Manu Samoa
Tonga Rugby (TRU) have their own celebrations planned for the week after, that also including the rugby Test between the 'Ikale Tahi and Flying Fijians at Te'ufaiva Stadium on September.
It will be the 95th Test match between the two nations.
TRU chief executive Aisea 'Aholelei said they will be celebrating with former players, families and fans.
"There are plans already for the week," he said.
PNC's own history
The PNC has its own history to celebrate as well.
Since starting in 2006, Fiji has won the top title six times, Manu Samoa four, while Tonga is still chasing their maiden title, although they had finished runners-up twice in 2011 and 2017.
World Rugby has decided to expand the competition this year to six teams, with a pool for the three Pasifika teams and the second pool made up of Japan, Canada and the United States.
The teams will play their pool games in a round-robin format, with the two pools then playing across for the play-offs.
That ensures more game time for the teams and a chance to test themselves against each other for rankings.
It also gives the teams, apart from Fiji and Japan, the opportunity to start building for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with qualifiers scheduled for 2025.
Manu Samoa team training in Apia for the Pacific Nations Cup. Photos: Manu SamoaManu Samoa team training in Apia for the Pacific Nations Cup. Photo: Manu Samoa
Fiji hosts Samoa this week, before the Samoans return home to prepare for Tonga next weekend.
Tonga will then host the Fijians in Nuku'alofa in the third week.
World Rugby said this year's series kicks off a new era for the cross-regional competition.
The world union has singled out Fiji's Iosefo Masi, Tonga's Ben Tameifuna and Samoa's Tuna Tuitama as players to watch in the Pacific pool.
"Fresh from helping Fiji to an Olympic sevens silver medal at Paris 2024, Iosefo Masi is ready to show his quality on a 15s pitch," World Rugby said.
Masi started all six of Fiji's matches at Stade de France last month, following a two-year break from sevens, scoring three tries and linking up with test team-mate Selesitino Ravutaumada to devastating effect.
"The Fijian Drua star, a gold medallist at Tokyo 2020, was unable to help his country to a hat-trick of Olympic titles as they fell just short in the gold medal match against the Antoine Dupont-powered hosts. But back in the test arena, Masi will not lack inspiration as he attempts to drive Fiji to a seventh Pacific Nations Cup title.
"The centre made a try-scoring test debut against Samoa last July and went on to make two appearances as a replacement during RWC 2023 in France."
In the absence of Josua Tuisova and Waisea Nayacalevu, Masi will have an important role to play over the next month. He was one of the standout players in this year's Super Rugby Pacific, beating more defenders (80) than any other player in the competition.
*(STREAM.s) Flying Fijians vs Manu Samoa streaming 23 August 2024
🔴🌍📺📱👉GO LIVE==►► CLICK HERE TO WATCH LIVE
🔴🌍📺📱👉STREAMING==►► CLICK HERE TO WATCH LIVE
The Pacific Nations Cup 2024 will be played across five weekends from 23 August to 21 September 2024. It features six teams, initially playing across two pools and then in knock-out rounds to produce an overall champion.
The 2024 Pacific Nations Cup competition kicks off in Suva on Friday, when the hosts Fiji will clash with neighbours Samoa for the 56 time.
Everything you need to know about the Pacific Nations Cup
As the rebranded cross-regional competition prepares to kick-off on 23 August, we take a look at a tournament with a rich history and an even brighter future.
But for the island rugby unions in the six -team event, they will have more than just the PNC title to chase - they will also mark 100 years of rugby union.
Fiji, Samoa and Tonga played first Test rugby games against each other in 1924.
Although rugby was first played in Fiji in 1884, internationals between the three countries did not start until 1924.
Run by World Rugby in partnership with the participating unions, the rebranded tournament is designed to drive competitiveness on the road to the expanded Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia.
Along the way, it is hoped this new era for the Pacific Nations Cup can help create an annual competition that contains rivalries like those seen in the Men’s Six Nations and Rugby Championship.
Embedded in the southern hemisphere international window, the tournament will combine with the two-division global calendar competitions launching in 2026 to provide unprecedented certainty of fixtures and opportunity for players and fans in Canada, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and USA.
News
Programmes
Schedules
How to Listen
About RNZ Pacific
PACIFIC FIJI22 Aug 2024
Pacific Nations Cup clash to kick off 100 years of rugby between Fiji, Samoa and Tonga
3:45 pm on 22 August 2024
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Iliesa Tora, Senior Sports Journalist
iliesa.tora@rnz.co.nz
The Flying Fijians putting in some defense work against Manu Samoa at Apia Park on Saturday. 29 July 2023 Photo: Piui Simi/Samoa ObserverThe Flying Fijians putting in some defense work against Manu Samoa at Apia Park on Saturday. 29 July 2023. Photo: Piui Simi / Samoa Observer
The 2024 Pacific Nations Cup competition kicks off in Suva on Friday, when the hosts Fiji will clash with neighbours Samoa for the 56 time.
But for the island rugby unions in the six -team event, they will have more than just the PNC title to chase - they will also mark 100 years of rugby union.
Fiji, Samoa and Tonga played first Test rugby games against each other in 1924.
Although rugby was first played in Fiji in 1884, internationals between the three countries did not start until 1924.
The expanded Pacific Nations Cup series will get underway this weekend duration3′ :16″ from Pacific Waves Add to playlist Download
Download as Ogg
Download as MP3
Download as AAC
Play Ogg in browser
Play MP3 in browser
Play AAC in browser
The expanded Pacific Nations Cup series will get underway this weekend
Fiji played against Samoa in two Test matches in Apia, winning the first, before the locals avenged that with a good win against the visitors in the second match.
The Fijians then sailed across to Tonga and returned with a successful nine-match tour of the Kingdom, winning seven games, with a draw and a loss to their name.
Now, a century later, the game of rugby has developed, most laws have changed, and players are now either semi-professionals or professionals, with big money involved.
Both the Samoa and Tonga Rugby Unions will be celebrating the centennials.
Lakapi Samoa have a week-long celebration planned for Apia from 25 August, culminating on the 30th, when Manu Samoa hosts the 'Ikale Tahi at Apia Park.
Records show the two teams have played 69 Test matches against each other.
Lakapi Samoa chief executive Faleomavaega Vincent Fepuleai told the Samoa Observer plans are already confirmed.
"We will be having our celebration on Sunday the 25th. We were hoping to have it at the Mulivai Cathedral, but it's closed because there's work being done on it in preparation for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting," he was quoted by the newspaper.
"We wanted to have it at the EFKS Hall because it was the only big place. However, we have moved it to St Theresa Catholic Church, Lepea.
"It's almost the same as the Marist's celebration but the Manu Samoa and Tonga game is within this week's celebration."
They will have a march on 27 August, where all the former rugby players will be participating.
Fepuleai said about 600 players will be in this celebration.
On 28 August, the union will host a Capping Awards night at Friendship Park.
"We're capping everybody that has played for Manu Samoa," Fepuleai added.
Manu Samoa team training in Apia for the Pacific Nations Cup. Photos: Manu SamoaManu Samoa team training in Apia for the Pacific Nations Cup. Photo: Manu Samoa
Tonga Rugby (TRU) have their own celebrations planned for the week after, that also including the rugby Test between the 'Ikale Tahi and Flying Fijians at Te'ufaiva Stadium on September.
It will be the 95th Test match between the two nations.
TRU chief executive Aisea 'Aholelei said they will be celebrating with former players, families and fans.
"There are plans already for the week," he said.
PNC's own history
The PNC has its own history to celebrate as well.
Since starting in 2006, Fiji has won the top title six times, Manu Samoa four, while Tonga is still chasing their maiden title, although they had finished runners-up twice in 2011 and 2017.
World Rugby has decided to expand the competition this year to six teams, with a pool for the three Pasifika teams and the second pool made up of Japan, Canada and the United States.
The teams will play their pool games in a round-robin format, with the two pools then playing across for the play-offs.
That ensures more game time for the teams and a chance to test themselves against each other for rankings.
It also gives the teams, apart from Fiji and Japan, the opportunity to start building for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with qualifiers scheduled for 2025.
Manu Samoa team training in Apia for the Pacific Nations Cup. Photos: Manu SamoaManu Samoa team training in Apia for the Pacific Nations Cup. Photo: Manu Samoa
Fiji hosts Samoa this week, before the Samoans return home to prepare for Tonga next weekend.
Tonga will then host the Fijians in Nuku'alofa in the third week.
World Rugby said this year's series kicks off a new era for the cross-regional competition.
The world union has singled out Fiji's Iosefo Masi, Tonga's Ben Tameifuna and Samoa's Tuna Tuitama as players to watch in the Pacific pool.
"Fresh from helping Fiji to an Olympic sevens silver medal at Paris 2024, Iosefo Masi is ready to show his quality on a 15s pitch," World Rugby said.
Masi started all six of Fiji's matches at Stade de France last month, following a two-year break from sevens, scoring three tries and linking up with test team-mate Selesitino Ravutaumada to devastating effect.
"The Fijian Drua star, a gold medallist at Tokyo 2020, was unable to help his country to a hat-trick of Olympic titles as they fell just short in the gold medal match against the Antoine Dupont-powered hosts. But back in the test arena, Masi will not lack inspiration as he attempts to drive Fiji to a seventh Pacific Nations Cup title.
"The centre made a try-scoring test debut against Samoa last July and went on to make two appearances as a replacement during RWC 2023 in France."
In the absence of Josua Tuisova and Waisea Nayacalevu, Masi will have an important role to play over the next month. He was one of the standout players in this year's Super Rugby Pacific, beating more defenders (80) than any other player in the competition.